The Zuma Beach Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf track scheduled annually in October at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.
History
The event is named after a popular beach, Zuma Beach, located in Los Angeles County, California.
The inaugural running of the event was inaugurated on October 8, 2012, and was won by the California-bred Gervinho who was trained by Carla Gaines and ridden by the Rafael Bejarano by half-a-length in a time of 1:34.59. Gervinho had a short but impressive career performing well in the Californian turf Derbys and winning the Grade II Sir Beaufort Stakes to be voted Californian Three-Year-Old of the Year in 2013.
The event is a preparatory race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Although no horse has won both events, 2014 winner of the Zuma Beach Stakes, Luck of the Kitten finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf to Hootenanny which was held also at Santa Anita Park.
The 2019 winner Hit The Road as a four-year-old went on to win a Grade 1 event (Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes)
In 2022 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.
Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:33.56 – Big Score (2016)
Margins: lengths – Big Score (2016)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Amerman Racing (2023, 2025, 2026)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Corey Nakatani (2013, 2014) 2 – Gary L. Stevens (2015, 2018) 2 – Juan J. Hernandez (2021, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Michael W. McCarthy (2023, 2025, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Repo ManUmberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthyAmerman Racing1 mile1:36.05$100,000III2025Stark ContrastKazushi Kimura Amerman Racing1 mile1:34.77$100,000III2024†Iron Man Cal Antonio Fresu Philip D'Amato Little Red Feather Racing & Madaket Stables1 mile1:34.45$101,500III2023Endlessly Juan J. Hernandez Michael W. McCarthyAmerman Racing 1 mile1:34.52$201,500III2022Packs a Wahlop Mike E. SmithJeff MullinsRed Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal 1 mile1:34.07$203,000III2021Mackinnon Juan J. HernandezDoug F. O'NeillERJ Racing, Madaket Stables & Dave Kenney1 mile1:33.80$202,500Listed2020Ebeko (IRE) Ricardo GonzalezPeter L. MillerAltamira Racing Stable, CYBT, Marc Lantzman & Michael Nentwig 1 mile1:36.55$101,000Listed2019Hit the Road Victor EspinozaDan BlackerD K Racing, Radley Equine, Taste of Victory Stables & Rick Gold 1 mile1:34.33$100,702Listed2018King of Speed Gary L. StevensJeffrey L. BondeDel Secco DCS Racing1 mile1:34.35$101,035Listed2017My Boy Jack Don't Tell My Wife Stables & Monomoy Stables 1 mile1:33.84$101,725Listed2016Big Score Flavien PratTim YakteenGeorge Krikorian 1 mile1:33.56$102,415Listed2015Gary L. StevensJanet ArmstrongBudget Stable1 mile1:35.76$101,250Listed2014Luck of the Kitten Corey NakataniWesley A. WardKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey1 mile1:34.84$101,250Listed 2013Aotearoa Corey NakataniLeonard Powell Paul A. Viskovich1 mile1:34.42$100,250 2012Gervinho Rafael BejaranoCarla Gaines Keith Brackpool1 mile1:34.59$100,000Listed
Legend:
Notes:
† In the 2024 Artislas was first past the post but was disqualified and placed third due to interference in the stretch run. Iron Man Cal was declared the winner and Sabertooth was promoted to second.
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References